NOTICE OF PUBLICATION FOR NOISE VARIANCE RECEIVED BY
STATE OF HAWAII, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Docket No. (25-NR-VN-44)

Pursuant to Chapter 342F-5, subsection(h), Hawaii Revised Statutes, the State of Hawaii Department of Health seeks written comments from interested persons regarding the following variance:
The State of Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), Highways Division, 869 Punchbowl Street, Hawaii 96813, has applied to the Department of Health for a variance from Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 11-46, Section 11-46-6(a), which states, “General Prohibition. Without a permit or variance issued pursuant to Section 11-46-7 or 11-46-8, no person within the State shall operate, from any premises or land owned, rented, leased, occupied, or controlled by that person, any excessive noise source.”

HDOT Highways Division wishes to inform you of a noise variance for improvements at the intersection of Bayfront Highway, Kamehameha Avenue, and Waianuenue Avenue in Hilo, Hawaii. The project will use Federal aid funding and will be conducted within the existing public right-of-way.

The project includes improvements to the intersection of Bayfront Highway (Hawaii Belt Road, State Route 19), Kamehameha Avenue (part of State Route 19), and Waianuenue Avenue (State Route 200) to address operational issues. See Figure 1 for the project area map. The project is intended to improve the overall maneuverability of vehicles, particularly for large trucks, through the intersection and to provide safer conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, the improvements are intended to mitigate existing vehicular congestion at the intersection and other roadways feeding into the intersection.

HDOT would like to conduct nighttime construction activities from Monday to Friday, between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day. The anticipated duration of construction would be from February 2027 through February 2029. Nightwork would not occur between September 15 and December 15 during Hawaiian seabird fledgling season in accordance with the US Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Action Section 7 Informal Consultation. The use of pile drivers, hoe rams, jack hammers 25 pounds or heavier, and high-pressure sprayers may be required during certain construction phases. However, this will be restricted to 7:00am to 3:00pm, Monday through Friday to the best degree possible. Construction equipment and onsite vehicles or devices requiring exhaust of gas or air will be equipped with mufflers. The Department of Health will retain and consider all written comments received not later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

Written comments and requests for information or inspection of the variance extension and related documents should be directed to: Indoor and Radiological Health Branch, 99-945 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701, telephone (808) 586-8000. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact the project team at (808) 692-7578.

Figure 1: Hilo Bayfront Roundabout at Bayfront Highway and Waianuenue Avenue Project Area Map